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Mount Stewart Gardens

Les noms des biens figurent dans la langue dans laquelle les Etats parties les ont soumis.

Royaume-Uni de Grande Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord (Europe et Amérique du nord)

Date de soumission : 21/06/1999
Critères: (ii)(iv)
Catégorie : Culturel
Soumission préparée par :
Dep. For Culture, Media and Sport Buildings, Monuments and Sites
Coordonnées
Long. 5°35'59" W / Lat. 54°33'08" N Co Down, Northern Ireland
Ref.: 1327

Description

Mount Stewart is one of the most spectacular and idiosyncratic gardens of Western Europe and universally renowned for the'extraordinary scope of its plant collections and the originality of its features, which give it world-class status'. It was created within an old demesne on the shores of Strangtord Lough, whose fine parkland trees and shelter belts were established for the 1782-83 house. A celebrated garden building, the Temple of the Winds, was added to the parkland in 1782-83 and the house was enlarged to designs of Dance in 1804, and by Morrison in the 1830S.



The main focus of the nominated area, the gardens, occupies about 80 acres to the north and west of the house. They were begun in 1921 by Edith, Lady Londonderry, and work was greatly aided by the ample labour force available after World War I. Much advice was forthcoming from such eminent plantmen as Sir John Ross and Gertrude Jekyll. The staggering range of plants she used came from nurseries throughout the British Empire and an olive was brought from the Garden of Gethsemene. Taking advantage of Mount Stewart's equable climate, Lady Londonderry sought to acquire as many rare and tender plants as possible, especially southern hemisphere species, to create a garden of extraordinary diverse design, held together by a web of family and historical imagery.



The gardens comprise both formal and informal areas, each with its own style and atmosphere. The formal gardens surrounding the house include the Sunk Garden, designed by Gertrude Jekyll, the Italian garden, based on a parterre at Dunrobin Castle, the Maiori Garden, which is a blue and white creation and the Dodo Terrace, whose statuary of creatures adds a touch of humour in that the beasts represent family friends and political figures who belonged to the Ark Club during World War I. The Spanish Garden is noted for its loggia on axis with the house and its arches of Monterey cypress, while the Shamrock Garden incorporates much topiary.



Further afield, paths wind through shrub and woodland all elegantly and cleverly planted with an outstanding variety of materials. These include such areas as the Rhododendrum Wood (grown from seeds brought from Burma in the 1930S), the Lady's Walk, the Jubilee Avenue and the Memorial Glade. A focal point of the informal grounds is the lake, dog in the 1840s, whose perimeter was richly planted by Lady Londonderry with great masses of colourful flowering trees and shrubs. Above, on a hill facing south, stands the family burial ground, Tir Nan Og, which offers glorious views of the garden and Strangford Lough beyond.



Edith, Lady Londonderry, died in 1959, having given the gardens (in 1955) to the National Trust, which has continued to maintain them in splendid order. In 1976 the house was also acquired by the Trust, together with much of its splendid furnishings for which it is also famous. This includes the magnificent Stubbs masterpiece 'Hambletonian', perhaps the most important picture in any Irish country house. The house is also noted for its great central hall and dining room, the latter containing the chairs used by delegates to the Congress of Vienna in 1815.



Also included within the nominated site is the Temple of the Winds, which is located on a hilltop south of the house, commanding fabulous views of Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains beyond. Generally recognised as one of the finest Greek-revival buildings of the late 15th century, it is an octagonal banqueting house and belvedere, designed by James Athenian Stuart in 1782-83 and based on the Tower of the Winds in Athens.



Boundaries

The Site comprises the main garden, including McComb's Hill, Rose Hill, Broadley's Wood, Clark's Hill, Mount Stewart House, Kiln House and Temple Hill. The 'buffer zone' comprises the wider parkland, including the Sea Plantation on the shore of Strangford Lough.